Daft Punk production

[rids]

This is a thread for anyone that knows anything about how Daft Punk produces and makes their music and anyone that can offer alternatives to achieving a similar sound to them. I'm looking for equipment, techniques, really anything on them you can throw out there for all their material. For example, what do they use in 'Harder, better, faster...' to get that Toyish type sound? I heard they use a Mutronics Mutator. It sounds like they use samples on that song and run them through the Mutator. Not sure though.

They seem to use heavy compression. Anyone have any tips on how to compress like they do and what they use?

[XHipHop]

A few years back they did interviews in like every music magazine...keyboard, future music, remix, etc.

I'd try to search those out.

[Siem]

"We have a really small compressor, the Alesis 3630, which is $300. That's the main one we used on Homework and Discovery. The one we used the most is one of the cheapest ones on the market. It's really funny; it's the bricolage thing. Sometimes you don't have to have the most expensive equipment to make good music.”
(source: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_daft_punk/ - 2001)

notice he says 'sometimes'. there's some more info on their gear in this article as well. I like their early sound, the dirty synths and compression / gating thing made it pretty interesting. They paid too much for their compressor though, new it's around 100 euro. There's a mod to upgrade the 3630 here: http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8690

[bcgood]

Please refer to my seminal thread on Daft Punk, Discovery.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...scovery+bcgood

Your Welcome!

bcgood

[rids]

Cool Thanks

I didn't see any mention of the Mutator. It's definitely filters - tweaked (along with other heavy processing) that give them that toyish sound.

I'm trying to find out how much of their music is samples from other music and how much of their stuff is their Own material that they wrote themselves.

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by Siem

"We have a really small compressor, the Alesis 3630, which is $300. That's the main one we used on Homework and Discovery. The one we used the most is one of the cheapest ones on the market. It's really funny; it's the bricolage thing. Sometimes you don't have to have the most expensive equipment to make good music.”
(source: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_daft_punk/ - 2001)

notice he says 'sometimes'. there's some more info on their gear in this article as well. I like their early sound, the dirty synths and compression / gating thing made it pretty interesting. They paid too much for their compressor though, new it's around 100 euro. There's a mod to upgrade the 3630 here: http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8690

hello,

I personnally cannot believe their sound comes by using cheap hardware units like the 3630 and crappy litle mixer. (It might have been ofcourse used for some special effects, but not for the all production). I personnally think the use of those kind of cheap machines was mentionned to build the myth.

Their sound is so fat and analog , and must be the result of very high end hardware and an amazing mixing skill and experience.

I feel that no one but them has ever come closed to that sound they are able to produce.
If some of you could give their opinions................

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

I feel that no one but them has ever come closed to that sound they are able to produce.
If some of you could give their opinions................

I agree Sergio, I think Daft Punk, Discovery is one of the most sonically brilliant albums that I have. It gleams of analogue goodness!

bcgood

[djui5]

Daft Punk rules.

just wanted to share that with the community.

back to my hole.

[sergioelectro]

hello,

I would really like to know comments from professionnal mixing guys from here about Daft punk sound and mix : very unique sound !!!!
How do you analyze it ? (this cannot be made only with those crappy 3630 and others ? ? no ? ? ?


Sergio

[sergioelectro]

Does the Mutator really have a very special sound ? ?
Or is it just a very good filter : In a way does it adds colour to the sound , or just filter it ?

thanks

[pan]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

Does the Mutator really have a very special sound ? ?

> YES

Or is it just a very good filter :

>YES

In a way does it adds colour to the sound , or just filter it?

>YES
- it can add from very little shine to extreme filtering with or without modulation

A good example for the Mutator is not represented by Daft Punk - they might have used it for LPF sweeps on subgroups or even the whole instrumental.
IMHO the Mutator-characteristic-sound is better characterized by Radioheads "OK Computer". (on acoustic guitars and drums)

DP is about toy boxes, talk boxes, vocoders, a huge editing/programming/mixing job and stellar mastering.
And at least two brains working together on the idea of Daft Punk...
bring on those tracks!


Cheers, Niko

Hi,

What makes Daft Punk albums and sound (not really a fan actually) so specific is most likely their ideas in their music. Somehow reflected in their funky videos.

Probably they have been using few and cheap gear at the beginning (what was available) and have been growing their studio in Paris since then.

They have declared in an interview in 2001 being amateurs of guitar and synthesizers from the 60's and 70's (like many electro style musicians: back to vintage analog).

http://www.labels.tm.fr/fr/article.asp?article=449

So what makes the music special is the ideas from the creator(s) and how he(they) make it happen with what is available at a given moment.

Sure, electronic music CD is usually heavily compressed (typical request to make it as loud and 'punchy' as possible).

Regards,
Laurent

[tony666]

Thomas Bangalter's father was a famous french DISCO producer in the 70/80's. I'm pretty sure he has had a major influence on their sound/sampling. Ottawan-D.I.S.C.O was produced by him!

Their first album is probably the easiest to copy and learn from. It's more about making minimal/abstract loops and making the individual sounds huge. Those songs could have been made with a cheap sampler and some analogue synths, but I don't think the final mix was done on a Mackie

There's lot's of French stuff sounding Big, sometimes I believe it's in their drinkwater

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by pan

A good example for the Mutator is not represented by Daft Punk - they might have used it for LPF sweeps on subgroups or even the whole instrumental.
IMHO the Mutator-characteristic-sound is better characterized by Radioheads "OK Computer". (on acoustic guitars and drums)

DP is about toy boxes, talk boxes, vocoders, a huge editing/programming/mixing job and stellar mastering.
And at least two brains working together on the idea of Daft Punk...
bring on those tracks!


Cheers, Niko

hello ,


I agree with you about their mixing skill , but I was more talking about the sound itself , it is very special : warm and creamy , like those records in the 70's , but with today's punch and weight .
To me they are the only one to have that 70's analogue sound , so I was just wondering how they can make it .

Thanks

[gregor z]

external input for envelope generator on MUTATOR is used quite a lot in their productions (my opinion) ............. it is really a great filter box....you can run whole stereo mix trough it and it still sounds very good.....also gate and some sort of "transient shaper" effects are possible , great for loops and drum soundz......

[Sirocco]

the production blew my mind the first time i heard it..so huge and lush...

[Ketster]

Yeah my fellow muso's always raise an eyebrow when I tell em Discovery is one of my all time fave albums.

I've been working on French house type tracks for a few years now and have done a lot of research on the mighty Daft Punk. I made a discovery of my own which kinda floored me like someone had just told there was no santa clause!!!
Most of that amazing sounding material in the tracks ( mainly from Discovery onwards) Is Sampled! Not just kicks an snares - I mean the whole freaking track! DP sound like they have the best studio full of analogue world class gear because they are sampling the best studio full of analogue world class gear.

Of course, they are adding stuff very sympathetically and effectively like the vocoders (sometime they are samples too - robot rock!), the huge kicks and tons of compression.

Incidentaly, I just had a track mastered by their vinyl mastering engineer of choice and he didn't pump my mix hardly at all. So I presume DP are acually finishing their mixes with that monsterous amount of mix compression!

Here are the samples - read em and weep ( I did)!

Daft Punk - High Fidelity Billy Joel - The Way You Are House Ishkur
Daft Punk - Digital Love George Duke - I Love You More House Ishkur
Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby House Ishkur
Daft Punk - On Da Dancefloor (Mix 1) Earth, Wind & Fire - September House Emilio1
Daft Punk - Aerodynamic Sister Sledge - Il Macquillage Lady House Ishkur
Daft Punk - One More Time Eddie Johns - More Spell On You House Ishkur
Daft Punk - Robot Rock Breakwater - Release the Beast House _1349
Daft Punk - Crescendolls The Imperials - Can You Imagine House Ishkur
Daft Punk - Superheroes Barry Manilow - Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed House Ishkur
Daft Punk - Face to Face ELO - Evil Woman House sampleminds
Daft Punk - Indo Silver Club Karen Young - Hot Shot House vezmus
Daft Punk - Voyager Oliver Cheatham - Get Down Saturday Night House Ishkur
Daft Punk - Around The World Jerry Goldsmith - The Rec Room House bojangles
Daft Punk - Verdis Quo Cerrone - Supernature House bojangles
Daft Punk - Da funk Barry White - I'm Gonna Love you Just a Little More Babe House Electroduende
Daft Punk - Da Funk Vaughan Mason And Crew - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll

Peace and digital love

Ketster

[rids]

You're saying those voices are sampled from those artists cds?

[Hint]

Not just voices.

This clip uses Edwin Birdsong's "Cola Bottle Baby" as the backing track:

http://vendingcostume.ytmnd.com

This piece of music was made in 1979.

[sergioelectro]

Whatever samples they may have used ; lots of other house productions also did !!!!!!!!
BUT what a difference of sound!! open your ears,their sound is so unique and special , sound so CREAMY.

SO my question is what kind machines or processing do that ??
Iknow there is the the great mixing experience skill and experience , but to give THAT SPECIAL TONE AND COLOUR , there must be some special equipement and recipes ? ? ? ??


Sergio

[Ketster]

Sure, other house music uses Samples but it's which samples you use that makes the difference.

DP have undeniably got great taste in choosing great samples and manipulating them but there is no magic box in their studio that churns out creamy sounding house (just the aleisis Comp).

In fact importantly, when you go to clubs (even back when discovery 1st came out) DJ's don't play DP original tracks - just remixes. This is because DP mixed Discovery for the home listener not the club. That's why it's getting such high praise here on Gear Slutz - unlike almost any other house music. It's not actually house music in my opinion - way too musical and detailed and not heavy/ hard enough in the bottom and sub dept. It's a sum of all their influences Beach Boy's, Disco, Techno, Club, classic funk/electro, and classic rock.

And lo... it is good!

K x

[Hint]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

SO my question is what kind machines or processing do that ??
Iknow there is the the great mixing experience skill and experience , but to give THAT SPECIAL TONE AND COLOUR , there must be some special equipement and recipes ? ? ? ??

It's not really about using a certain piece of gear.

It's all about having the balls to make music that sounds different... perhaps even "wrong" at first.

[Ketster]

yeah, like Hint just said,

Even if (and I have done) you can recreate some DP sounds for yerself - what use is that - none whatsoever. It's purely accademic.

DP are so great cos of their unique take on electronic music crafted with the musical sensibilities of the all time classics. Even though it's largely sampled, it's so distinctively them due to taste not gear.

So, the question for all lovers and artist/producers is this

"What is it that makes us unique and musically special"

Answer that in our audio productions and maybe we could all be the next DP!

[Ketster]

Further proof of what I'm talking about re samples is the track

Face to face

Listen to the ELO track 'evil woman' and you will be hearing the material that got chopped up to make to click-house-influenced tiny samples (a la todd terry/akufen et all).

Would anybody else have chopped those same bits and sequenced them up in that order to that devastating effect?

NO.

No boxes can make these choices for us.

It's purely down to their supreme taste and talent. Same as much of this music biz - despite what we want to believe it's not in the boxes it's the hearts and minds of humans (or robots?).

K x

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by Ketster

Further proof of what I'm talking about re samples is the track

Face to face

Listen to the ELO track 'evil woman' and you will be hearing the material that got chopped up to make to click-house-influenced tiny samples (a la todd terry/akufen et all).

Would anybody else have chopped those same bits and sequenced them up in that order to that devastating effect?

NO.

No boxes can make these choices for us.

It's purely down to their supreme taste and talent. Same as much of this music biz - despite what we want to believe it's not in the boxes it's the hearts and minds of humans (or robots?).

K x

That is pretty much right on the mark Ketster. Now if I could download their minds into my conscience like on The Matrix then I'll make the next Discovery!

bcgood

[Spartacus]

Listen to the track "Robot Rock" and then to a track from Breakwater called "Release the beast", a disco early 80's band track.

http://www.amazon.com/Splashdown-Bre...e=UTF8&s=music

you will understand why they sound like that, they just took 90% of the original track, so that's why it sounds "vintage" maybe

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by Spartacus

Listen to the track "Robot Rock" and then to a track from Breakwater called "Release the beast", a disco early 80's band track.

http://www.amazon.com/Splashdown-Bre...e=UTF8&s=music

you will understand why they sound like that, they just took 90% of the original track, so that's why it sounds "vintage" maybe

Yes true BUT , partially.

I am sure you can take the same sample but will never achieve to make it sound as good as the way they do.

I mean both people can take the same sample : in one case it will sound shit , and the other team will make it sound great !!!
Ofcourse there is the experience and skill , but don't tell me that the equipment does not enter a little bit into the game.

Their sound has always a common colour which I feel is due (at least partially) to the machines they use.

[EmDee]

Hi there !

For all you GEAR interested slutz , here's some of DP equipment :
( used since Homework ! )

- Neve Melbourne (x2) desks
- Mackie 1202s desks
- SP12ssssssss samplers & some old Emu ones
- EAR 660 Limiters
- SSl G series Compressors
- Logic Audio ( sorry PT guys ! )
- Nearly every single Analogue Synth you can name !
- Tons of imagination, creativity and Talent ...

and a whole lot of instruments laying around ! these guys are real
musicians ...

DO NOT underestimate, Nilesh Patel's contribution to their sound !!
( mastering engineer at the exchange , london ! )

Hope this helps

Emdee...

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by EmDee

Hi there !

For all you GEAR interested slutz , here's some of DP equipment :
( used since Homework ! )

- Neve Melbourne (x2) desks
- Mackie 1202s desks
- SP12ssssssss samplers & some old Emu ones
- EAR 660 Limiters
- SSl G series Compressors
- Logic Audio ( sorry PT guys ! )
- Nearly every single Analogue Synth you can name !
- Tons of imagination, creativity and Talent ...

and a whole lot of instruments laying around ! these guys are real
musicians ...

DO NOT underestimate, Nilesh Patel's contribution to their sound !!
( mastering engineer at the exchange , london ! )

Hope this helps

Emdee...

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see...............

Do you think the Neve Melbourne has something to see with that special sound they have (sweet but heavy): I mean, Is this the kind of thing that add a special colour to the sound you feed in ? ? ? ? ?

Thanks

[gregor z]

i have a pair of racked Neve 33114 eq modules (From Melbourne desk) and i can say that this is one of the most musical eqs i ever heard. It adds some sort of magic to any input sound source and you can boost to extreme amounts without sounding unpleasant.

I am just mixing some stuff for DJ Umek and i am printing all his Plug synths trough Neve + some other stuff to add some analogue feel. Results are outstanding and with some sounds i can hardly belive that they are digital in origin (and i know analogue very well).

It is not just neve and other outboard ......you still have to program good sounds and arrange them into a pieco of art......everything is just a tool......but it is good to have the best ones..........my two cents